O'Keeffe maintains jumps lead as Lee returns to top of Flat standings
Majestic Horizon and Darragh O'Keeffe won the North Down Marquees Maiden Hurdle at Downpatrick. Pic: Healy Racing
It’s as you were at the top of the National Hunt jockeys’ championship as both Darragh O'Keeffe and Daniel King were among the winners at Downpatrick on Monday afternoon.
Last season’s title race runner-up O’Keeffe brought his tally for the current term to 35 winners when taking the North Down Marquees Maiden Hurdle on the Philip Rothwell-trained Majestic Horizon.
The 5/2 chance led close to the penultimate hurdle and dug deep from the last to hold Colin Bowe’s 6/1 shot Fortis Et Liber by three-parts of a length.
O’Keeffe reported, “Philip said beforehand that he thought he was more than capable of winning races. He'll learn plenty from racing around there, he jumps really well, so nice to get that with him.”
Daniel King was earlier on the mark, and again received high praise from Tony Martin, when winning on the trainer’s Eben Zaabeel in the opening Randox Maiden Hurdle.
The Edward Ware-owned five-year-old, a strong 10/11 favourite, scored by a handy length and three-parts from Gordon Elliott’s front-runner Euro Agent.
Martin said, “That man is one of the best lads riding and he knows where the winning post is and that is what counts. Dan got him switched off as he was a bit keen through the race. He was a bit novicey too, but overall, you'd be very happy and he won well.”
King trails Darragh O'Keeffe by 12 winners in the jump jockeys’ standings.
The 3/1 favourite Bruant gave Tony Martin a second winner when taking the AJC Group Handicap Hurdle. This time Kevin Sexton was in the saddle and he gave the five-year-old a confident and patient ride to win by a length and a half from the Cian Collins-trained 12/1 shot Kashchei.
Sexton went on to complete his own double when taking the concluding handicap chase on the Ian Donoghue-trained Beggars Rock, a 4/1 chance.
Front-running tactics paid off for Danny Mullins who made most on Billy Lanigan’s 14/1 chance Ripsnorter to win the WillWeGo.com Handicap Hurdle. The five-year-old was well on top from the final hurdle to win by all of seven lengths.
Lanigan said, “Danny is very lucky for us, he’s a past master at those front-racing tactics.
"This horse is owned by a great, long-standing friend of mine called Hugh Laing. He hasn't been very well of late, so I hope this gives him a boost. He'll jump a fence, so there's good days ahead.”
Willie McCreery and Billy Lee were the double scorers at Roscommon later in the day. They won the seven-furlong Elphin Handicap with COR Racing Syndicate-owned 7/1 chance Phoenix Pairc who beat the Colin Keane’s 15/8 favourite Givehertilxmas by a head.
Miss Romagna was a second winner for both men, winning the 12-furlong maiden in fine style and also at odds of 7/1. McCreery commented, “Next year will be her best year. She’s getting stronger as the years go on and the more time we gave, the better. The owner has been very patient and I’m delighted for him.”
Lee’s double saw him regain the lead in the Flat jockeys’ championship. He leads Colin Keane by two (68-66) heading to Gowran Park on Tuesday where both ride in seven of the eight races.
Trainer Andy Slattery was another to complete a double of sorts on the day. He was on the mark with Philip Donovan-ridden Killeemore Lad in the beginners' chase at Downpatrick and also won the first of the 12-furlong handicaps at Roscommon with the mare Letiza who was ridden by his son Andrew.
Wayne Lordan and Aidan O'Brien had been first off the mark at Roscommon where South Dakota narrowly landed the Irish EBF Median Sires Race. The 3/1 chance headed Paddy Twomey’s 7/4 favourite Joga Bonita before the furlong-pole and held his determined rival by just a shorthead.
